A DIRECTORY FOR CHURCH-GOVERNMENT AND ORDINATION OF MINISTERS To be examined against the next Generall Assemblie EDINBURGH Printed by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1647. A DIRECTORY FOR CHURCH-GOVERNMENT AND ORDINATION OF MINISTERS To be examined against the next GENERALL ASSEMBLY The Preface JEsus Christ upon whose shoulder the Government is whose Name is called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease of whose Government and Peace there shall bee no end who sits upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and establish it with Judgement and Justice from henceforth even for ever Having all power given unto him in Heaven and Earth by the Father who raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand far above all Principalitie and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all He being ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things received gifts for his Church and gave all Officers necessary for the edification of his Church and perfecting of his Saints Of the Church THere is one Generall Church visible held forth in the New Testament unto which Generall Church visible the Ministery Oracles and Ordinances of the New Testament are given by Jesus Christ for the gathering and perfecting of the Saints in this life untill his second coming Particular visible Churches members of the Generall Church are also held forth in the New Testament which particular Churches in the primitive times were made up of visible Saints viz. of such as being of age professed Faith in Christ and obedience unto Christ according to the rules of Faith and Life taught by him and his Apostles and of their Children Of the Officers of the Church APostles Prophets and Evangelists were extraordinary Officers in the Church and are ceased The Pastor is an ordinary and perpetuall Officer in the Church To whose Office it belongeth to pray for and with his Flock To read the Scripture publikely in the Congregation which is an holy Ordinance in Gods Church although there follow no immediate explication of what is read To preach the Word to be instant in season out of season To reprove correct instruct rebuke exhort convince and comfort One especiall way of discharging which work of Preaching is by a plain laying down the first principles of the Oracles of God which is commonly called Catechising to administer the Sacraments In the Name of God to blesse the people To take care for the poor And he hath also a ruling power over the Flock as a Pastor In the Scripture we also finde the name and title of Teacher who is a Minister of the Word and hath power of administration of the Sacraments and Discipline as well as the Pastor The Lord having given different gifts and divers exercises according to those gifts in the Ministers of the Word though these different gifts may meet in and accordingly be exercised by one and the same Minister yet where there be severall Ministers in the same Congregation they may be designed to severall imployments according to the different gifts wherein each of them doth excell And he who doth more excell in exposition of Scripture in Teaching sound Doctrine and in convincing gainsayers then he doth in application and is accordingly imployed therein may be called a Teacher or Doctor Neverthelesse where there is but one Minister in a particular Congregation he is to perform so far as he is able the whole work of the Ministery A Teacher or Doctor is of most excellent use in Schooles and Universities as of old in the Schooles of the Prophets and at Jerusalem where Gamaliel and others taught as Doctors It is likewise agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God that some others beside the Ministers of the Word be Church Governours to joyne with the Ministers in the Government of the Church which Officers Reformed Churches commonly call Elders These Elders ought to be such as are men of good understanding in matters of Religion sound in the faith prudent discreet grave and of unblameable conversation Deacons also are distinct Officers in the Church To whose Office it belongeth not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments but to take speciall care for the necessities of the poor by collecting for and distributing to them with direction of the Eldership that none amongst the people of God be constrained to bee beggers The Deacons must be wise sober grave of honest report and not greedy of filthy lucre Of Church Government and the severall sorts of Assemblies for the same CHrist hath instituted a Government and Governours Ecclesiasticall in the Church And to that purpose the Apostles did immediatly receive the keyes from the hand of Jesus Christ and did use and exercise them in all the Churches of the World upon all occasions And Christ hath from time to time furnished some in his Church with gifts for Government and with Commission to exercise the same when called thereunto It is agreeable to and warranted by the Word of God that some others besides the Ministers of the Word be Church Governours as was mentioned before It is lawfull and agreeable to the Word of God that the Church be governed by severall sorts of Assemblies Which are Presbyteries and Synods or Assemblies Congregationall Classicall and Synodicall The Scripture doth hold out a Presbytery in a Church which Presbytery consisteth of Ministers of the Word and those other Church Officers who are to joyne with the Ministers in the Government of the Church The Scripture doth hold out another sort of Assemblies for the Government of the Church besides Classicall and Congregationall which wee call Synodicall Of the power in Common of all these Assemblies and the order to be observed in them IT is lawfull and agreeable to the Word of God that the severall Assemblies before mentioned do convent and call before them any person within their severall bounds whom the Ecclesiasticall businesse which is before them shall concerne either as a party or a witnesse or otherwise and to examine them according to the nature of the businesse And that they do hear and determine such causes and differences as shall orderly come before them and accordingly dispence Church censures It is most expedient that in these meetings one whose Office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine do moderate in their proceedings who is to vote as well as the rest of the members To begin and end every meeting with prayer To propose questions gather the votes pronounce the Resolves But not to do any act of Government unlesse in and joyntly with the Assembly whereof he is Moderator All the members of these
Assemblies respectively are to attend on the appointed dayes of their meetings or to send the reason of their absence to bee judged by the Assembly where they ought to meet The finall resolutions shall be by the Major part of the votes of those members who are present Of Particular congregations IT is expedient that particular Congregations bee fixed both in their Officers and members which are to meet in the same Assembly ordinarily for publike Worship When their number is great that they cannot conveniently meet in one place it is expedient that they be divided according to the respective bounds of their dwellings into distinct and fixed Congregations for the better administration of such Ordinances as belong unto them and the discharge of mutuall duties wherein all according to their severall places and callings are to labour to promote what ever appertaines to the power of Godlinesse and credit of Religion that the whole band in the full extent of it may become the Kingdome of the Lord and of his Christ Parochiall Congregations in this Kingdome consisting of Ministers and People who professe faith in Christ and obedience unto Christ according to the rules of Faith and Life taught by Him and his Apostles and joyne together in the publike Worship of Hearing Praying and administration of the Sacraments are Churches truely constituted If any Person or Persons in the Congregation do not answer his or their profession but by open sin and wickednesse crosse and deny it or if there bee a want of some Officers or a sinfull neglect of Officers in the due execution of Discipline yet this doth not make that Congregation cease to be a Church but requires that there should be a supply of Officers which are wanting and a carefull endeavour for the Reformation of the offending Person or Persons and of negligent Officers by just censures according to the nature of the cause Communion and Membership in Congregations thus constituted notwithstanding the forementioned defects is not unlawfull And to refuse or renounce membership and Church-communion or to separate from Church-communion with Congregations thus constituted as unlawfull to be joyned with in regard of their constitution is not warranted by the Word of God Separation from a Church thus constituted where the Government is lawfull upon an opinion that it is unlawfull and that therefore all the godly are also bound o separate from all such Churches so constituted and governed and to joyn themselves to another Church of another Constitution and Government is not warranted by the Word of God but contrary to it To gather Churches into an independent forme of Government out of Churches of a Presbyteriall forme of Government upon an opinion that the Presbyteriall Government is unlawfull is not lawfull or warranted by the Word of God Nor is it lawfull for any member of a Parochiall Congregation if the Ordinances be there administred in purity to go and seek them elsewhere ordinarily Of ordinances in a particular Congregation ORdinances in a particular Congregation are Prayer Thanksgiving singing of Psalmes reading of the Word Preaching and Catechising administring the Sacraments blessing the People in the Name of God and collection for the Poor As for Discipline wee referre our selves to what wee have elsewhere expressed Of the Officers of a particular Congregation IN the Congregation there must be some who are set apart to bear Office One at the least to labour in the Word and Doctrine and to rule And let others bee chosen ruling Elders to joyne with him in Government When any ruling Elder is to bee chosen where an Eldership is constituted let it bee done by them with the consent and approbation of the people of that Congregation and that not for a limited time Yet the exercise of their Office may be so ordered by the Eldership as that their civill imployments bee least hindered thereby Where there are many ruling Officers in a particular Congregation let some of them more especially attend the inspection of one part some of another as may be most convenient and let them at fit times visit the severall Families for their spirituall good Let there be also Deacons to take speciall care for the relief of the poor who are likewise to be chosen by the Eldership with the consent of the people of that Congregation and the continuance of them in that Office is to be determined by the Eldership with the consent of the Congregation so as may least hinder their civill imployment These Officers are to meet together at convenient and set times for the well ordering of the affaires of that Congregation each according to his Office The number of Elders and Deacons in each Congregation is to be proportioned according to the condition of the Congregation Of Congregationall Elderships or Assemblies for Governing in a particular Congregation THE Congregationall Eldership consisting of the Minister or Ministers and the other ruling Officers of that Congregation hath power as they shall see just occasion to enquire into the knowledge and spirituall estate of any member of the Congregation To admonish and rebuke To suspend from the Lords table though the person be not yet cast out of the Church All which is agreable to the Word of God Although the truth of conversion and regeneration bee necessary to every worthy communicant for his own comfort and benefit yet those onely are to bee by the Eldership excluded or suspended from the Lords Table who are found by them to be ignorant or scandalous Where there are more fixed Ministers then one in a Congregation it is expedient that they moderate by course in that Eldership Of Classicall Assemblies WHen Congregations are divided and fixed they need all mutuall help one from another both in regard of their intrinsicall weaknesse and mutual dependance as also in regard of Enemies from without The Scripture doth hold forth that many particular Congregations may bee under one Presbyteriall Government A Classicall Presbytery is an Assembly made up of Ministers of the Word and other ruling Officers belonging unto severall Neighbouring Congregations and doth ordinarily consist of all the Pastous and Teachers belonging those severall Congregations so associated and of one of the other ruling Officers at the least from every of these Congregations to be sent by their respective Presbyteries Let them meetionce every Moneth or oftner as occasion shall require in such place as they shall judge most convenient And before they sit about other businesse let there be a Sermon or exposition of Scripture made by some Minister of that Classis or Expectant as they shall agree amongst themselves For the more orderly managing of such affaires as come before them let there bee one Moderator chosen by the Classis at every meeting out of the Ministers of the Word who shall continue till the next meeting To the enabling them to performe any Classicall act of Goverment or Ordination there shall bee there present a major part at least of the Ministers
of the whole Classis It belongeth unto Classicall Presbyteries To consider of to debate and to resolve according to Gods Word such cases of conscience or other difficulties in Doctrine as are brought unto them out of their association according as they shall finde needfull for the good of the Churches To examine and censure according to the Word any erronious Doctrines which have been either publikely or privatly vented within their association to the corrupting of the judgements of men and to endeavour the converting and reducing of Recusants or any others in Errour or Schisme To order all Ecclesiasticall matters of common concernment within the bounds of their association To take cognizance of causes omitted or neglected in particular Congregations and to receive appeals from them To dispence censures in cases within their cognizance by Admonition Suspension or Excommunication To admonish or further to censure scandalous Ministers whether in Life or Doctrine according to the nature of the offence and that not only for such offences for which any other Member of the Congregation shall incurre any censure of the Church in which case he is to be censured by the Classis with the like censure for the like offence but likewise particularly for Simony entering into any Ministeriall charge without allowance of authority false Doctrine affected lightnesse and vanity in Preaching willfull neglect of Preaching or slight performance of it wilfull Non-residence from his Charge without call or cause approved by the Classis neglect of administration of the Sacraments or other Ministeriall dueties required of him in the Directory of Worship depraving and speaking reproachfully against the wholesome orders by authority setled in the Church casting reproach upon the power of Godlinesse which he by his office ought cheifly to promote Yet so as that no Minister be deposed but by the resolution of a Synode To examine ordain and admit Ministers for the Congregations respectively therein associated according to the advice formerly sent up to the honourable Houses of Parliament Of Synodicall Assemblies SYnodicall Assemblies do consist of Pastors Teachers Church-Governours and other fit Persons when it shall be deemed expedient where they have a lawfull calling thereunto These Assemblies have Ecclesiasticall power and authority to judge and determine controversies of Faith and cases of Conscience according to the Word They may also lawfully excommunicate and dispence other Church censures Synodicall Assemblies are of severall sorts viz. Provinciall Nationall Oecumenicall Of Provinciall Assemblies LEt Provinciall Assemblies generally be bounded according to the civill division of the Kingdome into Counties and where any very great Counties are divided within themselves let the Provinciall Assemblies follow these divisions as in the Ridings of Yorkshire Provinciall Assemblies consist of Delegats sent from Severall Classes within that Province whose number shall exceed the number of any one Classicall Presbytery within that Province And to that end there shall bee at the least two Ministers and two ruling Elders out of every Classis and where it shall appear necessary to encrease the number let it not exceed six of each from any one Classis Let these Assemblies meet twice every year And for enabling them unto any act of Government let there be a major part at least of the Ministers delegated from the severall Classes Of the Nationall Assembly THe Nationall Assembly consists of Ministers and Ruling Elders delegated from each Provinciall Assembly The number of which delegats shall bee three Ministers and three Ruling Elders out of every Province and five Learned and Godly Persons from each University Let this Assembly meet once every year and oftner if there shall be cause The first time to bee appointed by the Honourable Houses of Parliament Of the subordination of these Assemblies IT is lawfull and agreeable to the Word of God that there be a subordination of Congregationall Classicall Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies for the Government of the Church that so appeals may bee made from the inferiour to the superiour respectively The Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies are to have the same power in all points of Government and censures brought before them within their severall bounds respectively as is before expressed to belong to Classicall Presbyteries within their severall associations The DIRECTORY for Church censures CHurch censures and Discipline for judging and removing of offences being of great use and necessity in the Church that the Name of God by reason of ungodly and wicked persons living in the Church be not blasphemed nor his wrath provoked against his people that the Godly be not leavened with but preserved from the contagion and stricken with fear and that the sinners who are to be censured may be ashamed to the destruction of the flesh and saving of the Spirit in the day of the Lord Jesus We judge this course of proceeding therein to be requisite The order of proceeding with offenders who before excommunication manifest Repentance WHen the offence is private the order of admonition prescribed by our Lord Mat. 18.15 is in all wisdome and love to bee observed that the offender may either be recovered by Repentance Or if he adde obstinacie or contempt to his fault he may be cut off by Excommunication If the sinne bee publikely scandalous and the sinner being examined bee judged to have the signes of unfeigned Repentance and nothing justly objected against it when made known to the people let him be admitted to publike confession of his sinne and manifestation of his Repentance before the Congregation When the penitent is brought before the Congregation the Minister is to declare his sinne whereby hee hath provoked Gods wrath and offended his People his confession of it and profession of unfeigned Repentance for it and of his resolution through the strength of Christ to sinne no more and his desire of their Prayers for mercy and grace to bee kept from falling againe into that or any the like sinne Of all which the penitent also is to make a full and free expression according to his ability Which being done the Minister after prayer to God for the penitent is to admonish him to walk circumspectly and the people to make a right use of his fall and rising again And so to declare that the Congregation resteth satisfied The order of proceeding to Excommunication EXcommunication being a shutting out of a Person from the Communion of the Church and therefore the greatest and last censure of the Church ought not to be inflicted without great and mature deliberation nor till all other good meanes have been assayed Such errors as subvert the Faith or any other errors which overthrow the power of Godlinesse if the party who holds them spread them seeking to draw others after him and such sinnes in practise as cause the Name and Trueth of God to bee blasphemed and cannot stand with the power of Godlinesse and such practises as in their own nature manifestly subvert that Order Unity and Peace which Christ hath
and is to bee removed to another charge hee shall bring a Testimoniall of his Ordination and of his abilities and Conversation whereupon his fitnesse for that place shall bee tryed by his Preaching there and if it shall bee judged necessary by a further examination of him In all which he being approved he is to bee sent to the Church where he is to serve there to Preach three severall dayes and to converse with the people that they may have tryall of his gifts for their edification and may have time and occasion to inquire into and the better to know his life and conversation In the last of these three dayes appointed for the tryall of his gifts in Preaching there shall bee sent from the Presbytery to the Congregation a publike intimation in writing which shall be publikely read before the people and after affixed to the Church door To signifie that such a day a competent number of the Members of that Congregation nominated by themselves shall appear before the Presbytery to give their consent and approbation to such a Man to bee their Minister Or otherwise to put in with all Christian discretion and meeknesse what exceptions they have against him And if upon the day appointed there be no just exception against him but the people give their consent then the Presbytery shall proceed to Ordination Upon the day appointed for Ordination which is to be performed in that Church where he that is to be ordained is to serve A solemne fast shall be kept by the Congregation that they may the more earnestly joyne in prayer for a blessing upon the ordinance of Christ and the labours of his Servant for their good The Presbytery shall come to the place or at least three or four Ministers of the Word shall bee sent thither from the Presbytery of which one appointed by the Presbytery shall Preach to the people concerning the office and duety of the Ministers of Christ and how the people ought to receive them for their works sake After the Sermon the Minister who hath Preached shall in the face of the Congregation demand of him who is now to be ordained concerning his faith in Christ Jesus and his perswasion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion according to the Scripture his sincere intentions and ends in desiring to enter into this Calling his diligence in Prayer Reading Meditation Preaching Ministering the Sacraments Discipline and doing all other Ministeriall duties toward his charge his zeal and faithfulnesse in maintaining the Truth of the Gospel and Unity of the Church against Errour and Schisme his care that himself and his Family may be unblameable and examples to the flock his willingnesse and humility in meeknesse of Spirit to submit unto the admonitions of his Brethren and Discipline of the Church and his resolution to continue in his dutie against all troubles and persecution In all which having declared himself professed his willingnesse and promised his endeavours by the help of God The Minister likewise shall demand of the people concerning their willingnesse to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ and to obey and submit unto him as having rule over them in the Lord and to maintaine encourage and assist him in all the parts of his office Which being mutually promised by the people the Presbytery or the Ministers sent from them for Ordination shall solemnly set him apart to the Office and Work of the Ministry by laying their hands on him which is to be accompanied with a short Prayer or Blessing to this effect Thankfully acknowledging the great mercy of God in sending Jesus Christ for the Redemption of his People and for his ascension to the right hand of the Father and thence pouring out his Spirit and giving gifts to Men Apostles Evangelists Prophets Pastors and Teachers for the gathering and building up of his Church and for fitting and inclining this man to this great Work To entreat him to fill him with his holy Spirit to give him whom in his Name we thus set apart to this holy Service to fulfill the Work of his Ministry in all things that hee may both save himself and the People committed to his charge This or the like forme of Prayer or Blessing being ended let the Minister who Preached briefly exhort him to consider the greatnesse of his Office and Work the danger of negligence both to himself and his people the Blessing which will accompany his faithfulnesse in this life and that to come And withall exhort the People to carry themselves to him as to their Minister in the Lord according to their solemne promise made before And so by prayer both commencing Him and his Flock to the grace of God After the singing of a Psalme let the Assembly bee dismissed with a Blessing If a Minister be designed to a Congregation who hath been formerly ordained Presbyter according to the forme of Ordination which hath been in the Church of England which we hold for substance to be valide and not to be disclaimed by any who have received it Then there being a cautious proceeding in matter of examination let him bee admitted without any new Ordination And in case any Person already ordained Minister in Scotland or in any other Reformed Church be designed to a Congregation in England he is to bring from that Church to the Presbytery here within which that Congregation is a sufficient Testimoniall of his Ordination of his life and conversation while hee lived with them and of the causes of his removeall And to undergo such a tryall of his fitnesse and sufficiency And to have the same course held with him in other particulars as is set down in the rule immediatly going before touching examination and admission That Records be carefully kept in the severall Presbyteries of the Names of the Persons ordained with their Testimonials the time and place of their Ordination of the Presbyters who did impose hands upon them and of the charge to which they are appointed That no Money or gift of what kinde soever shall be received from the Person to bee ordained or from any on his behall for Ordination or ought else belonging to it by any of the Presbyterie or any appertaining to any of them upon what pretence soever Thus far the ordinary rules and course of Ordination in the ordinary way That which concerns the extraordinary way requisite to be now practised followeth In these present exigences while we cannot have any Presbyteries formed up to their whole power and work and that many Ministers are to be ordained for the Service of the Armies and Navie and to many Congregations where there is no Minister at all and where by reason of the publike troubles the people cannot either themselves enquire out and finde one who may be a faithfull Minister for them or have any with safety sent unto them for such a solemn tryall as was before mentioned in the ordinary rules especially when there can bee no Presbytery neer unto them to whom they may addresse themselves or which may come or send to them a fit man to be ordained in that Congregation and for that People And yet notwithstanding it is requisite that Ministers be ordained for them by some who being set apart themselves for the Work of the Ministry have power to joyne in the setting apart of others who are found fit and worthy In these cases untill by Gods blessing the aforesaid difficulties may bee in some good measure removed let some godly Ministers in or about the City of London be designed by publike authority who being associated may ordaine Ministers for the City and the Vicinity keeping as neer to the ordinary rules forementioned as possibly they may And let this association be for no other intent or purpose but onely for the work of Ordination Let the like association be made by the same authority in great Towns and the Neighbouring Parishes in the severall Counties which are at the present quiet and undisturbed to do the like for the parts adjacent Let such as are chosen or appointed for the service of the Armies or Navie bee ordained as abovesaid by the associated Ministers of London or some others in the Countries Let them do the like when any man shall duely and lawfully be recommended to them for the Ministery of any Congregation who cannot enjoy liberty to have a tryall of his parts and abilities and desire the help of such Ministers so associated for the better furnishing of them with a Person as by them shall bee judged fit for the service of that Church and People Cornelius Burges Prolocutor pro tempore Henry Roborough Scrib Adoniram Byfield Scrib FINIS
and holy in all manner of Conversation God may bee honoured the Church edified and himself saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Then shall follow the sentence of Absolution in these or the like words Whereas thou N. hast for thy sinne been shut out from the Communion of the Faithfull and hast now manifested thy Repentance wherein the Church resteth satisfied In the Name of Jesus Christ before this Congregation I pronounce and declare thee absolved from the sentence of Excommunication formerly denounced against thee And do receive thee to the Communion of the Church and the free use of all the Ordinances of Christ that thou mayest be partaker of all his benefits to thy eternall salvation After this Sentence of Absolution the Minister speaketh to him as to a Brother exhorting him to watch and pray or comforting him if there be need the elders embrace him and the whole Congregation holdeth communion with him as one of their own Although it be the duety of Pastors and other ruling officers to use all diligence and vigilancy both by Doctrine and Discipline respectively for the preventing and purging out such Errors Heresies Schismes and scandals as tend to the detriment and disturbance of the Church Yet because it may fall out through the pride and stubbornnesse of offenders that these meanes alone will not be effectuall to that purpose It is therefore necessary after all this to implore the aide of the Civil Magistrate who ought to use his coercive power for the suppressing of all such offences and vindicating the discipline of the Church from contempt Of Ordination of Ministers BEcause no man ought to take upon him the office of a Minister of the Word without a lawfull Call therefore Ordination which is the solemne setting apart of a person unto some publick Church office is alwaies to be continued in the Church When he who is to be ordained Minister hath been first duely examined touching his fitnes both for life and Ministeriall abilities according to the rules of the Apostle by those who are to ordaine him and hath been by them approved Hee is then to bee ordained by imposition of hands and prayer with fasting But if any person be found unfit he is not to be ordanied It is agreeable to the word and very expedient that such as are to bee ordained Ministers be designed to some particular Church or other Ministeriall charge Ordination is the act of a Presbyterie unto which the power of ordering the whole worke belongs yet so as that the preaching Presbyters orderly associated either in Cities or in neighbouring villages are those to whom the imposition of hands doth appertain for those Congregations within their bounds respectively And therefore it is very requisite that no single Congregation which can conveniently associate doe assume to it selfe all and sole power in Ordination No Person or Persons may or ought to nominate appoint or choose any man to be a Minister for a Congregation who is not fit and able for that worke And if any unfit man be nominated to the Classicall Presbyterie they are to refuse to admit him When any Minister is to be ordained for a particular Congregation or translated from one place to another the people of that Congregation to which hee is to bee ordained or admitted shall have notice of it and if they shew just cause of exception against him hee is not to be ordained or admitted And in the meane time till one be admitted the Presbyterie shall provide for the supply of the Congregation The Congregation if they conceive themselves wronged by any act of the Presbyterie shall have libertie to appeal to the next Synode which upon hearing of the matter shall judge as the cause shall require The Directory for Ordination of Ministers IT being manifest by the word of God that no man ought to take upon him the office of a Minister of the Gospel untill he be lawfully called and ordained thereunto and that the work of Ordination is to be performed with all due care wisdome gravity and solemnity wee humbly tender these Directions as requisite to be observed He that is to be ordained being either nominated by the people or otherwise commended to the Presbytery for any place must addresse himself to the Presbyterie and bring with him a testimoniall of his taking the Covenant of the three Kingdomes of his diligence and proficiency in his Studies what degrees hee hath taken in the University and what hath been the time of his abode there and withall of his age which is to be four and twentie yeares but especially of his life and conversation Which being considered by the Presbyterie they are to proceed to enquire touching the Grace of God in him and whether he be of such holinesse of life as is requisite in a Minister of the Gospel And to examine him touching his learning and sufficiency and touching the evidences of his calling to the holy Ministery and in particular his fair and direct calling to that place The Rules for examination are these 1. That the party be dealt with in a Brotherly way with mildnesse of spirit and with speciall respect to the gravitie modesty and quality of every one 2. He shall be examined touching his skill in the Originall tongues and the tryall to be made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Testaments and rendring some portion of them into Latine And if he be defective in them enquiry shall bee made the more strictly after his other learning And whether he hath skill in Logick and Phylosophie 3. What Authors in Divinity he hath read and is best acquainted with And tryall shall be made of his knowledge in the chief grounds of Religion and of his ability to defend the Orthodox Doctrine contained in them against all unsound and erronious opinions especially those of the present age of his skill in the sense and meaning of such places of Scripture as shall be proposed to him in cases of Conscience in the Chronologie of Scripture and the Ecclesiasticall History 4. If he hath not preached in publick with approbation of such as are able to judge he shall at a competent time assigned him expound before the Presbytery such a place of Scripture as shall be given him 5. He shall also within a competent time frame a discourse in Latine upon such a Common place or Controversie in Divinity as shall be assigned him and exhibite to the Presbyterie such Theses as expresse the summe thereof and maintaine a Dispute upon them 6. He shall Preach before the People the Presbyterie or some of the Ministers of the Word appointed by them being present 7. The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which he is called shall be considered 8. Beside the triall of his gifts in Preaching he shall undergoe an examination in the premisses two severall dayes or more if the Presbyterie shall judge it necessary 9. And as for him that hath beene formerly ordained a Minister